Something interesting about the common blue

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:50 pm

Guys did you know that the common blue lives in symbiosis with ants. The larva has special glands that produce honey dew for the ants and the ants literally addicted to the substance feed the larva on the colony's eggs.

The larva then pupates and the butterfly emerges from the ant nest.

It's just a suggestion but shouldn't we include such info in the profile?

Post by **MWP admin** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:53 pm

Yes Conch, I will take care of it. Are you sure about the info?? Do you have a pic of the larvae?

RB · Post by RB » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:27 pm

Interesting, and at this rate if farming and animal husbandry were considered as the start of human civilisation, then ants have been civilsed for a lot longer than we have.

Suppose you all know that ants "farm" aphids, too - even carting them to suitable plant species for them to feed on.

RB

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:18 am

Ants, probably the most organised creatures on earth.

Mr.MWP we do have a photo of the common blue in the fauna section.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Blue

See for yourself.

Conchiolin · Post by **Conchiolin** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:19 am

unfortunately i don't have a pic of the larva, but you know it would be a lot interesting to include the info in the profile waddya think?